Bayou
Catholic
k c a B to l o o h Sc 4 201
Back To School
Guest Columnist Marian Fertitta
Welcome back to the 2014-2015 school year
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Here it is July and already we are talking about “Back to School.” But in education back to school is more meaningful for parents and students because when the bell rings on the last day of school, teachers and administrators begin preparing for the next school year. You may ask, “What are they doing all summer?” Many attend university classes to work on advanced degrees. They are working on curriculum, reviewing test data, preparing lessons, attending professional development to learn the latest engaging classroom strategies, and others are rearranging and sometimes even painting their classrooms to make sure that these are bright and cheery for the new group of smiling faces that will soon be there. Parents and students, welcome back to the 2014–2015 school year. The Lord has truly blessed our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in so many ways by sending us phenomenal people to work in our schools, remarkable students, supportive parents and grandparents, and generous community members who support us in so many ways.
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014
As students prepare for the new school year, which is right around the corner, it’s a good idea for those who have problems with their eyesight to have an examination before school begins, advises Dr. Lawrence Breaux of Family Vision Clinic.
What a blessing it is to work here! This year we welcome several new and some familiar faces to the administrative teams in four schools. David Boudreaux, who has been serving as president of E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux, will become the president of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma. He will be joined by Yvonne Weimer as principal. Weimer has been principal at Maria Immacolata Elementary School for the past four years. Tim Robichaux, band director at E.D. White, will replace Boudreaux as president of the school. Three new principals will be joining us. Amanda Talbot will become the new principal at Holy Cross Elementary School, replacing Mamie Bergeron who has retired. Geraldine “Prissy” Davis will become principal at Maria Immacolata. Replacing Liz Scurto who retired as principal of St. Gregory Elementary School in Houma will be Tonia Guidry.
There are other exciting changes taking place in 20142015. During the first week of March 2015 our Catholic schools will be undergoing AdvancED diocesan reaccreditation. It seems impossible that five years have gone by since we became the first diocese in the State of Louisiana to receive national accreditation. We will once again be one of the first dioceses in the nation to use the National Catholic Benchmarks for Quality Catholic Schools along with the AdvancED standards for reaccreditation. This process is very intense and requires personnel at all of the schools and the Catholic Schools Office to use multiple sources of data to determine to what degree we are meeting the standards. On March 1–4, 2015, a team of Catholic educators from across the nation will visit our schools and review our findings to conclude if we have met reaccreditation standards. Our goal in maintaining accreditation
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Quick facts
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
is to ensure that all of our schools are preserving our Catholic identity while providing our students with high academic standards and quality education. Standardized testing will see a change in the spring as we administer the ACT/ASPIRE test to determine student progress. This test is the new version of the Stanford 10 which has been used for many years. The new test will be administered in grades 3–8 and is aligned with the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards. We will now be able to track student progress toward meeting the ACT standards beginning in third grade assuring that our students are well prepared for the ACT. To ensure that what is being taught is aligned with these standards our curriculum facilitator and groups of teacher representatives from each school worked throughout the past school year and into the summer to
Quick Facts of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux: Approximately 5,550 students will report to Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in the 20142015 school year. Ten percent of the student population during the 20132014 school year were non-Catholic; minority students made up 15 percent of the population. Six schools had waiting lists for admission. There are 377 professional staff members (administrators and teachers) and 154 support staff members in the schools. Two hundred six teachers serve the 10 elementary schools and 146 teachers serve the three high schools. The laity makes up over 99 percent of the faculty; less than one percent is religious. The student/teacher ratio is 15:1. Average tuition per pupil is $ 6,500 for high schools and $ 3,650 for elementary schools. Average salary for a high school lay teacher is $ 41,960; and $ 34,323 is the average salary for an elementary school lay teacher. Number of graduates in the 2012-2013 school year was 356. Percentage of seniors who graduated in 2013 was 99 percent. Percentage of graduates who entered college in 2013 was 95 percent. Total college scholarship dollars awarded in 2012-2013 was $ 8,502,834.
establish curriculum maps. The maps are a guideline as to what needs to be taught at each grade level to avoid gaps in instruction and duplication of content from year to year. Our administrators, teachers and staff are working diligently to maintain and obtain up-todate technology for our students. Several schools are in the process of updating their computer labs. Several are working on funding to purchase iPads for use by our middle school students. Through grant funding all schools are now equipped with wireless Internet. Our goal is continue to upgrade technology in an attempt to keep pace with the rapidly changing technological world our students experience each day. Finally, and most importantly, our major goal is to try to create within our walls a climate in which the students’ faith will gradually mature and enable them
to assume the responsibility placed on them by their baptism (The Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education). Working with our parents, it is our task as Catholic schools to form our students into students of virtue and eventually into young men and women of Christ. It is our hope that each person who enters the doors of our schools can truly feel the presence of Christ. With the help of God and the guiding intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary I am confident that our school year will be blessed and that our students will grow in faith, love, knowledge and service. I pray that you continue to enjoy these final weeks of summer. In turn, I ask you to pray for our administrators, faculties, staff, and me as we continue to prepare for this upcoming school year. May God continue to pour out his blessings on each of you. Marian B. Fertitta Superintendent of Catholic Schools www.bayoucatholic.com
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Back To School
Guest Columnist
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Preparing for a new school year
Gerard Rodrigue Jr.
As a child I remember looking forward to the summer with great anticipation because it provided a break from the structured routine of school – playing outside till dark, going to bed later, sleeping late in the morning, and of course no homework or studying for tests. Back then summer vacation was three months, but nowadays with all of the extended holidays during the school year, summertime has been whittled down to about two months. In any case I do hope you and your families are enjoying the less hectic days of summer – maybe taking a family vacation, spending more time enjoying your favorite hobby, watching the kids play ball games at the park, swimming, eating more meals together as a family, or just not rushing around so much. As the summer winds down, parents and kids everywhere will be gearing up for a new school year. But before we get to that, research shows students can lose two to three months of learning over the summer break. Kids (and yes, parents, too) deserve time off from the school routine, but that doesn’t mean learning has to go by the wayside. Today there are more fun and interesting opportunities available than ever before to ensure that students stay sharp and keep learning over the summer. If you haven’t found the time yet, it’s not too late – here are a few suggestions: n Nourish your faith! Remember to continue making time for religious services and activities. Set aside time to pray together as a family, say grace before meals, attend Mass every Sunday and maybe on a weekday as well, or spend an hour of prayer in one of our area Adoration Chapels. Many of our local churches sponsor vacation Bible schools and youth ministry events over the summer. n Read, read, read. Instilling a love of reading is important for all children, whether they be infants or teenagers. The summer is a perfect time for fluent readers to read books of their choice or maybe start a fun new series. Visit your local library and if you’re searching for titles, a great placed to start is your child’s Scholastic Reading Counts or Accelerated Reader school list. For still emerging readers, parents should read to or with their child every day. Reading skills improve more quickly when parents ask questions about what children have read. Be sure to let your child see you reading – nothing beats modeling what you preach. n Writing – today there is more and more emphasis on the importance of students’ writing skills. A good way to help keep writing skills sharp over the summer is to have them write a short synopsis or essay when they finish reading a book. A great way
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
to link Scripture with creative writing is to have them write a devotional. All children can experience success writing devotionals, no matter their reading and writing levels. First, select a short, appropriate Bible verse for them to read (at first you may have to read it along with them). Have them re-read it then meditate or reflect on the passage and think of how it relates to their everyday life. Finally, have them write a short devotional (50-250 words) based on something they learned, observed, or personally experienced with a theme inspired by the Scripture passage. This not only enhances their writing skills, but helps them learn what God has taught through his word and makes them think about their relationship with him and the people in their lives. n Math – stay sharp by pairing math and technology this summer. There are tons of math sites and/or apps with games and customized learning activities which engage and challenge kids, preventing learning loss while getting a head start on the coming year. n Science – inspiring curiosity through hands-on activities helps to strengthen science skills during summer break. Again, we are fortunate to have in our area a multitude of scientific opportunities that allow kids to go outside and explore. Planting a vegetable garden helps children learn how photosynthesis
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works. Telescopes, magnifying glasses or microscopes can provide many hours of discovery and exploring for youngsters. For children of all ages you may consider visiting a local zoo, planetarium, or science and nature museum. And let’s not forget the awesome opportunity that exists right here in our own backyard – The Bayou Country Children’s Museum! What a great gift and educational opportunity this museum has provided our community with – take advantage of it. n Stay active! Swap sedentary time for active time. Children burn 30-50 calories an hour when they are sitting, but 400-500 calories in an hour when running or playing. Limit time spent in front of the television, on the iPad or playing video games. It’s okay for children to engage in these, but encourage “active breaks” often and get them playing outdoors. n Discourage mindless munching. Make healthy snacks accessible, taking advantage of the many fruits and vegetables available in the summer months. Look at summer as a great opportunity to help your child stay active, healthy, and to continue learning. Enjoying the summer with your children will bring you closer as a family. Parents, you have more power than you realize to guarantee a healthy future for your children. Finally, as the new school year inches closer there will be more and more things on the “to do” list to make sure your children are ready for that first day of school. I offer these few suggestions as a way to make a smooth, less hectic transition into the new year: n Shop for and purchase school supplies in advance.
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This way you will avoid the crowded aisles and checkout lines as the beginning of school nears. n Do the same when purchasing school uniforms and shoes for your child. Be sure to carefully check the uniform dress code at your child’s school to avoid returns or exchanges. Shop smart and thrifty – some local uniform/shoe stores offer good discounts during the summer. Also, your child’s school may offer free uniform give or take opportunities and our local Gym Dandy store has uniforms available at bargain prices. n Gradually transition your child and family back to the more structured school schedule. This is especially true for bed times and wake up times. It is wise not to go from one to the other overnight – a gradual transition will provide your child with a much more rested, stress-free beginning of school. n Discuss and make travel and child care plans prior to the start of school. Most schools offer a before and after care program which is a necessity for working parents. If your child will be riding a bus to and from school, I encourage you to have them ride from day one. This helps the school establish student bus counts and provides the information and opportunity to balance bus loads early. My hope and prayer is that you enjoy what’s left of summer and come August, that you and your family are re-charged, well-prepared, and eager to begin the 2014-15 school year! (Gerard Rodrigue Jr. is the principal of St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux.)
e m o c l Waeck to School
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www.bayoucatholic.com
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Back To School
Guest Columnist
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Suzanne Troxclair
Catholic school students ‘give back’ to the community through service projects
For as long as I can remember, “giving something back” has been an integral part of my life as a servant of Jesus Christ. In fact, some of my fondest memories of childhood involved just that – working alongside others in my faith community offering help where and when it was needed. Whether it was providing meals and supplies to the people of Juarez, Mexico, during a mission with Father Dean Danos, or stocking the shelves with my mother at Gym Dandy, E.D. White’s thrift store run by the school’s Mothers Club, I was learning the importance of fostering my true spirituality through stewardship – the gift of time, talent, and treasure. The gift of service to others is deeply rooted in and an integral part of the Catholic faith. It is one way in which we, as Christ’s servants, are able to offer ourselves to God the father. A strong commitment to service, both at home and at school, deepens the understanding of our young church in their role in the ministry of service. The Catholic schools of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux have made that commitment and accepted the challenge of fostering an atmosphere of service within their school communities. This is evident in the vast array of projects and activities embraced by the schools that are designed to help those with various needs throughout their schools, communities and far beyond. It is not necessary to look far to find Christ present in our students. The examples of service abound. In the early grades and years of school, our elementary students have the opportunity to participate in several organizations that are designed to serve others. The Caritas club, student council, junior beta club, builders club and 4-H club, to name just a few, are all strong service organizations in which our students have the opportunity to participate. These clubs lead service projects throughout the schools so that all students are able to participate. For example, the student council of St. Joseph Catholic Elementary in Thibodaux conducts a food drive during the month of November to provide the local food bank with a greater supply of nonperishable items to distribute to the needy in the community. Members place boxes in all homeroom classes so that all students are able to participate in the mission. At St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary in Houma, the 4-H club led a group of students, parents and teachers in a service project at the Ronald McDonald House in Houma, a haven for children with serious and/or life-threatening illnesses and their families.
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014
Members of the school family spent their day cleaning toys, sweeping and completing various other chores as needed. Participants were humbled to see, first-hand, the crosses some children are bearing on a daily basis as they face serious medical conditions and procedures. Service in the elementary schools of the diocese, however, is not all club-sponsored. For instance, faculty, parents and students at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary in Morgan City participate in holy walks to the homes of the elderly near the school to share the gift of prayer with their neighbors. St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary in Thibodaux raises money through a school wide fund drive to support Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in Thibodaux, and the fourth grade class of St. Mary’s Nativity Elementary in Raceland “adopts” a seminarian from the diocese, writing letters to him and offering prayers for his journey of faith.
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Vandebilt and E.D. White Catholic High School students and faculty traveled to St. Anne’s Mission, which is run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Klagatoh, New Mexico, to provide assistance to the residents. The students helped build ramps, dug outhouses, repaired homes, provided fun nights for the local children, painted and served at a nursing home.
As our youth mature and move on to high school, the ministry of service becomes more focused as students continue putting the Gospel into practice. All three diocesan high schools employ a service awareness program in which all students actively participate. Many students participate through service projects sponsored by clubs such as National Honor Society, Key Club, 4-H, campus ministry and student council. Additionally, service projects abound which are not club-sponsored. An appropriate number of hours is expected of each student; however, our students never cease to amaze us as they clock thousands of hours year after year for the betterment of their schools, churches, communities and beyond. At Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, for example, students witness the message of the Word of God through activities such as their coat drive for the less fortunate, as well as their regular visits with the elderly in assisted living facilities. Under the direction of Brother John Hotstream, S.C., both students and faculty at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux and Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma participated in a mission trip to Klagatoh, New
Mexico. There, under the guidance of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, St. Anne’s Mission exists to provide for those in need. At the mission, students and faculty of the two schools built ramps, dug outhouses, repaired homes, painted, and provided fun nights for the local children. This opportunity to form relationships through service is an integral part of stewardship. Although service awareness hours are a part of the high schools’ policies, required numbers do not seem necessary. As Deacon Vic Bonnaffee, principal of Central Catholic High School, so eloquently shared, the time our students give “… are apostolic hours, as we are all disciples of Christ.” I continue to be humbled by what our students contribute to their schools, communities and beyond. They are truly walking with Jesus as they continue to grow into faith-filled servants of God. “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also; if anyone serves me, the father will honor him” (John 12:26). (Suzanne Troxclair is the curriculum specialist for the Catholic schools in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.) www.bayoucatholic.com
Back To School
Thoughts
as school gets underway
By KASE JOHNSTUN
Catholic News Service
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I was conducting a quick Google search -- my Internet mode of scouring for needed information. I typed “back to school” into the search box, hoping to find loads of information about teens going back to school and issues that come up that first day or within that first month when everything is new, confusing and even a little scary at times. I found nothing until close to the 20th “page” of sites. What I did find were articles for kids going back to school and a million back-to-school shopping pages, including articles on which stocks to buy to cash in on the current purchasing patterns of teens. But searching and searching I stumbled upon YouthNoise.com and liked this site. While I don’t advocate everything I found, there is a lot of good stuff there. The site encourages teens to take stock of their world and to change things for the better by making their voices heard. Check it out, but, like all things on the Internet, use discretion. This site really seems to be on the right track in many ways, pushing toward changing the world to make it a better place.
While on this website I found a “Top 10” list that I liked: the Top 10 things to do before going back to school. No. 10 and No. 9 urged teens to read at least one more book on their summer reading lists and to see a summer movie. Next was to “clean out your closet” and “take the clothes, shoes and accessories you don’t wear anymore to your local Good Will or Salvation Army” center. No. 7 was to “brush up on current events,” and No. 6 was to purchase school supplies. This point noted that “everyone loves getting new pens and binders, but some kids can’t afford them.” So it urged teens to “buy some extra supplies and donate them through your church or school. Or when you check-out at stores like Office Depot, request that 5 percent gets donated to your school of choice.” Next the list urged teens, rather than walking through the doors of the school and beginning to complain, to “think of ways to make your school better.” Getting a haircut came next on the list, along with a recommendation that those with long hair donate their tresses to “Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids to help kids with cancer.”
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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014
The list’s third point was a recommendation that teens think about where they stand on standardized testing and teen drinking. No. 2 urged teens to learn about volunteer opportunities that could help meet their school’s service requirement. Finally, the top thing to do before going back to school was to “trust yourself.” As the list put it, “only you know who you are, what you believe and what you stand for.” It urged teens to stand by their decisions on “drugs, alcohol, sex, smoking and violence” and to “know how to get out of risky situations before you get into them!” So many of these 10 points shout “Give!” I like that. And that final point – “trust yourself” – really nails it. Know what you think going in. Bring your Christian values with you and defend them. You don’t have to yell at the top of your lungs “I’m Catholic and proud of it,” because your actions will make the noise for you. Defend what you believe in simply by refusing to cave in to peer pressure, by standing up for others and avoiding situations you shouldn’t be in anyway.
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Holy Cross Elementary 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades PK-6 Amanda Talbot, Principal Phyllis Jensen, Secretary 384-1933 • Fax 384-3270 holycrosselm@htdiocese.org www.holycrosselementary.org Holy Rosary Elementary P.O. Box 40 Larose, LA 70373 Grades PK-8 Scott Bouzigard, Principal Angie Loupe, Secretary 693-3342 • Fax 693-3348 holyroselm@htdiocese.org www.holyrosary.org St. Gregory Elementary 441 Sixth St. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PS-7 Tonia Guidry, Principal Jennifer Torres, Admin. Asst. 876-2038 • Fax 879-2789 stgregelm@htdiocese.org www.stgregorycatholic.org Maria Immacolata Elementary 324 Estate Dr. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Prissy Davis, Principal Donna Hill, Secretary 876-1631 • Fax 876-1608 mariaimmacoelm@htdiocese.org www.mariaimmacolata.org St. Bernadette Elementary 309 Funderburk Ave. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Joan LeBouef, Principal Susan Chauvin, Secretary 872-3854 • Fax 872-5780 stbernelm@htdiocese.org www.saintbernadettepandas.com
St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School 300 Verret St. Houma, LA 70360 Grades PS-7 Brenda Tanner, Principal Kim Landry, Secretary 868-6646 • Fax 851-5896 stfranciselm@htdiocese.org www.stfrancishouma.org St. Genevieve Elementary 807 Barbier Ave. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Chris Knobloch, Principal Stacie Trosclair, Secretary 447-9291 • Fax 447-9883 stgenelm@htdiocese.org www.stgenevieveschool.us Holy Savior Elementary 201 Church St. Lockport, LA 70374 Grades PK-8 Tricia Thibodaux, Principal Terri Vedros, Secretary 532-2536 • Fax 532-2269 holysavelm@htdiocese.org www.holysaviorschool.org St. Joseph Elementary 501 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Gerard Rodrigue Jr., Principal Barbara Kliebert, Secretary 446-1346 • Fax 449-0760 stjoeelm@htdiocese.org www.stjosephcatholicschool.net St. Mary’s Nativity Elementary 3492 Nies Street Raceland, LA 70394 Grades PK-8 Marissa Bagala, Principal Judy Watts, Secretary 537-7544 • Fax 537-4020 stmarelm@htdiocese.org
Central Catholic High School 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades 7-12 Vic Bonnaffee, Principal Sandy Daigle, Secretary 385-5372 • Fax 385-3444 centcathi@htdiocese.org www.cchseagles.com Vandebilt Catholic High School 209 S. Hollywood Rd. Houma, LA 70360 Grades 8-12 Yvonne Weimer, Principal Shirley Cunningham, Secretary David Boudreaux, President 876-2551 • Fax 868-9774 vandebilthi@htdiocese.org www.vandebiltcatholic.org E.D. White Catholic High School 555 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades 8-12 Michelle Chiasson, Principal Cathy Hebert, Secretary Tim Robichaux, President 446-8486 • Fax 448-1275 edwhitehi@htdiocese.org www.edwhite.org Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Marian Fertitta Superintendent of Schools mfertitta@htdiocese.org Suzanne Troxclair Curriculum Specialist Janet Marcel Administrative Assistant 850-3114 • Fax 850-3214
www.edline.net/pages/St_Marys_Nativity_School
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Back To School
Guest Columnist
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Renee’ Naquin
What do teachers really do during the summer?
The dismissal bell on the last day of school is a glorious sound – not only to students but to teachers too! We’ve worked hard all year planning awesome lessons, teaching our hearts out, managing our classrooms, grading test papers, reading essays, attending faculty meetings, etc. We deserve a break, don’t we? Of course teachers rest and relax over the summer. That is expected. It’s the things that people don’t see that we do that would surprise many and maybe change their minds about teachers having the WHOLE summer off. First off, about halfway through the school year we start making lists about things we want to do during the summer. These lists have nothing to do with visiting the spa or going on lavish shopping sprees. These lists are things we want to accomplish during the summer to make the education we provide in our classrooms during the next school year even better than last year. Many of our summer “vacation” days are spent tackling this list of tweaking lessons, implementing strategies, learning new curriculums, etc., all to ensure that we measure up to the administrators’ and parents’ expectations of our instruction in the classroom and to guarantee that our students are prepared for the following grade level and the real world. We attend various professional development trainings at different times during the summer to learn new techniques and information that will enhance the education our students receive from us. And this is just June!! The majority of July is spent preparing our classrooms for the new little darlings that will be ours from August until May. We paint, we clean, we spruce up, we hang new posters, and we reorganize. We come up with creative seating charts. We plaster our little darlings’ names everywhere we can so that come August they feel welcome in their new home away from home. We attend more meetings and trainings to ensure that the upcoming school year will produce successful results. All this extra work over our “summer vacation” with no extra pay! Of course we take family vacations over the summer like everyone else. We spend time with our own children attending baseball games or swim meets. We act as taxi drivers, hauling our kids to gymnastics, swimming lessons, bible school and other activities. We catch up on movies and books that we didn’t have time to view or read during
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
the school year. We vow to start an exercise routine, although we know as soon as school starts in August we will have forgotten all about that vow. During all of these “normal people” activities we run into past students in public who look at us like we are aliens from another planet because everyone knows teachers just climb into their classroom closets and wait for next school year to begin. Even while away from home and staying busy being “normal people,” our gears are constantly turning, and we are always on the lookout for things to take back and use in our classrooms. So you see, although teachers have ALL summer off, we are never truly off. We are always working to better ourselves so that we can improve the quality of the education we provide to our students. Even with all this work, you’ll never hear us complain because we know how blessed we are to have been called to such a noble profession. We are dedicated, hardworking, caring, loyal teachers. We patiently listen to 20 stories about a topic that has nothing to do with what we are learning. We tie 50 pairs of shoes a day. We pull teeth. We teach and reteach so that EVERY child in our classroom knows his or her multiplication facts. We stay at school until 7 p.m. making sure we have everything ready for the next day’s lesson. We sit at the soccer field grading test papers. We inhale our lunch so that we can attend parent teacher conferences to ease the minds of parents. Being a teacher is hard work, but every year on the night before the first day of school we will be giddy with anticipation of what the school year will bring with our new little darlings. (Renee’ Naquin is a third grade teacher at Holy Savior Catholic School in Lockport.)
Be part of creating a safe space for all teens
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
By Karen Osborne
Catholic News Service
What’s the most important thing a teen can have? A smartphone, a driver’s license, or a date to the prom? A magic wand that does your homework when you wave it? I would argue that the most important thing a teenager can have is a safe space, where he or she feels free to share feelings, hopes and dreams without fear of ridicule or recrimination. This can be found in a physical item, such a journal, or it can be a class or club where the person feels accepted and understood: the school newspaper, theater, forensics, or the football team. One of my most important safe spaces as a teenager was my church youth group. My youth minister was supportive and encouraging. We always felt safe asking questions about what it was like to be Catholic in a secular world. A friend who is a youth minister recently told me that the teenagers she works with have stopped talking in class and at retreats. They wouldn’t talk in small groups or share their feelings about faith with the other kids. At first, she didn’t know why. They would voluntarily silence themselves in a way she’d never experienced. Worried, she took the teenagers aside, one by one, asking them why they were so quiet all the time. The answer was telling: The teens were scared that their classmates would surreptitiously film their comments about their Catholic faith and religion, and put them online for the ridicule of the entire school. It had happened before and the teens were afraid of it happening again. Instead of participating, their response was to remain silent, to disengage and to drop
out of the conversation. Mobile devices have created a world in which no 73 space is safe at a time when teens need safe spaces the most. I was teased in front of a class of 20. I can’t imagine what it would be like to grow up in a world where I’m teased by the world. It would be terrifying to be muffled and silenced because technology provides a means to violate crucial trust, privacy and safety. This isn’t just cyberbullying. We don’t need crazy government conspiracy theories because we already are living in a surveillance state, one we control and police all by ourselves. Some people would say that the answer would be to shut off mobile phones entirely, to take them away. I’m not sure that’s the right response. In the right hands, a mobile phone can change the world for the better. The technology is here and it is not going away. What we need is to learn how to be respectful and responsible users of technology. Teens need to be courageous. Now is the time to engage with the world, to speak up and talk about all of the ideas and questions bubbling up inside of you no matter what your friends are doing with their smartphones. Don’t let fear control your life. Don’t engage with mean texts and don’t share videos meant to hurt and bully. Bullies like having an audience. Don’t be a part of creating a mean audience, in person or online. If you’re part of a support group for teens, be more aware of how technology affects their lives and be ready to give them strategies to better deal with problems. It takes a little more work to create safe spaces these days, but it’s absolutely necessary. www.bayoucatholic.com
Back To School
‘ Extreme
parenting: The Back-to-School Edition
By Bill and Monica Dodds
,
Catholic News Service
“Extreme” competitions from cake baking to world travel continue to make some prime-time television shows popular, but when it comes to parenting, it’s not a good idea. Here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at how moms and dads could win “Extreme Parenting: The Back-to-School Edition” by going way too far one way or the other. 1. Pull to a complete stop, but don’t shut off the car’s engine when you drop off your child on the first day of the new school year. Yell “see ya!” Then floor it. (The cameras will love this, especially if you really peel out from the school parking lot.) Or, go in with your student and never leave his or her side. Ever. 2. Spend thousands of dollars to make sure that your 74 child is leading the fashion trend, whatever it may be. Or, get only “sensible” items for school clothes. Yes, they make your darling look as if he or she just stepped out of a picture from 1965. (Older viewers of the show will really love this: “I had a skirt just like that!”) The other children won’t tease him or her, will they? As a rule, classmates are always kind and sensitive, right? 3. Make it known to all, especially to your child’s teacher, that your angel is never at fault, no matter what others may say or see. Completely believe whatever your son or daughter tells you about an “incident.” (The editors will cut from the incident of your child committing the deed to him or her lying to you about it, a little tear running down a sweet face. That’s good
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TV!) Or, always take the teacher’s side; assume your child is at fault -- again -- and punish accordingly. 4. Homework? Hey, you’re not in school. You don’t have homework; your child does. Your student is on his or her own. Sink or swim, baby! Or, allow your poor, “ stressed” son or daughter to watch TV, surf the Net, text and chat or play video games while you stay up late, finishing a diorama on “The Secret Garden” (camera close-up on the shoe box.). 5. Let other parents -- a lot of other parents -- know if you disagree with something that your child’s teacher did. That’s not gossiping; it’s healthy networking. If you must talk to someone official, go straight to the principal. Or, become the “teacher’s little pest” and visit, email, text or phone dozens and dozens of times every week with helpful “feedback” on his or her teaching. (Another close-up: Teacher blocking your phone number.) 6. Make it known that a teacher is a saint, is perfect. For your child to even hint anything to the contrary is heresy. Or, trash-talk your child’s teacher in front of your child. Trash-talk all teachers. And the profession: “They work six hours on weekdays and have all summer off, plus they have a week’s vacation every month and winter break. Give me a break!”(TV camera shows a clock past midnight and a teacher at a kitchen table with stacks of papers to be corrected.) Needless to say, a show like that would be a hit, and parenting like that would be a disaster. Here’s to a successful, “extreme-less” 2014-2015 school year!
NOTICE In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations, each of the thirteen Catholic schools, within the parochial school system of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, has a copy of its Asbestos Management Plan on file in the Principal’s Office. Anyone interested in reviewing a particular schools’ Asbestos Management Plan should first contact the school’s principal to schedule a time for the review. This notice applies to the following individuals: • Parents of children who attend one of the thirteen Catholic schools within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. • Teachers and all other employees within the parochial school system of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
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Time-pressed families heading back to school this fall may find they really need that extra hour of morning sun offered by daylight savings time. The transition from the schedule-free days of summer to the more regimented requirements of school can create chaos in even the most orderly home. Parents can employ planning and preparation to streamline the back-to-school transition, and help ensure everyone leaves the house on time - and in a good mood. Here are some simple tips: Create a Family Calendar From Dad’s golf lessons to Mom’s business meetings, from Sam’s
soccer practice to Dylan’s debate team sessions, the school year is full of important moments that require parents to develop the scheduling skill of a diplomat’s personal assistant. Creating a family calendar and posting it in a central place in the home can help ensure no important dates get missed - and everyone knows what everyone else is doing and when. To make it even easier to track schedules, use different colored markers for each family member. Use a stand-out color such as red to note events that will require participation from every family member, like Grandma’s 80th
birthday party. Gather everyone together on Sunday night and make updating the calendar for the week ahead a group activity. Pre-route Travel Jill’s off to college this fall and Ted is starting as a freshman at the new high school across town. Dad has new clients an hour’s drive away and Mom’s networking sales business is taking off. Pre-planning the routes your family will travel to school, work or events can save time and money. Use a navigation system or the internet-based traffic service Traffic.com to avoid traffic jams, detours, construction delays
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and time lost to being lost. Traffic.com offers realtime information on current traffic conditions in most regions of the country. Didn’t have time to hop online before you left the house? Traffic.com information can be accessed from your cell phone by calling (866) MYTRAFC (866-698-7232). If you have a GPS device, be sure it’s up-to-date with the latest maps. Updating your device’s maps at www. navigation.com helps you to identify the best route to your destination, gets you around detours, and can even help you find a gas station, ATM or convenience store, helping you manage your already busy schedule. Create Time Of course you can’t really add hours to the day, but you can copy the daylight savings time approach. Set the clock back by performing “morning tasks” - like organizing outfits, lunch boxes, book bags - the night before. Also, fill the gas tank on the drive home instead of adding a stop to your morning commute. Use a coffeemaker with a timer, prepare the coffee the night before and then set to perk automatically in the morning. Each task may take just a few minutes to complete in the morning, but by bundling them together and moving them to the night before, you enjoy real-time savings during your morning routine. With planning and preparation, you can help ensure you family stays on track - and on time - this school year. Then you can all use that extra hour of daylight for family fun. Courtesy of ARAcontent 77
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BY CHRISTOPHER CARSTENS 78 Catholic News Service Every year kids go back to school planning on some improvements. Maybe you want to keep tidier notebooks or do all your homework on time. Those are fine ideas, but I would like to suggest another goal in the context of your Christian life. This year, when you go back to class, be a peacemaker in your own life. It’s easy to talk about how the Israelis and the Palestinians need to make peace. It’s not hard to think up ways other people could solve their struggles. The real challenge for peacemaking comes when one of the people in the fight is you. Jesus made it clear that making peace was not just a nice idea. It was a basic requirement for Christian living. Right now, you could probably list three people at school for whom you hold some kind of a grudge. The guy who insulted you in the lunch line. Your former boyfriend or girlfriend, the one who went out with somebody else behind your back. The kid who spread rumors about you. The student who got the part you wanted in the spring musical. The wise guy in English who makes condescending remarks about anybody else’s ideas. Often we don’t even notice that we are not at peace. We just think that there’s something wrong with the other guy, who is too selfish, too stupid or too inconsiderate to see things our way. If you spend time grinding your teeth, because somebody angered you or hurt your feelings, you are not at peace. If you avoid certain people or don’t have lunch at certain tables, the peace in your heart is troubled. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014
If you’re holding a grudge, or nursing an old resentment, it’s time for you to face the challenge of peacemaking. Staying angry is the most natural thing to do -- one of the things we humans are best at. Jesus calls on us to do something totally unnatural. There is no instant or easy formula for making peace. If there were, a long list of ancient hatreds would have been laid to rest long ago. Peacemaking, however, has three clear components: thoughts, words and deeds. First, declare peace. If the conflict was internal (a burning annoyance or resentment), there’s no need to say anything out loud. Just internally declare peace, saying to yourself, “Doug, I’m not going to be angry about your stupid jokes anymore.” If your conflict has been out in the open, tell the person of your intention to make peace. No lengthy explanation is needed. A simple statement will do. “Jenna,” you might say, “I’m not going to avoid you anymore -- I figure we might as well get along.” You may get a frigid reaction. “Sure, like I want to get along with you!” You offer peace and then live it out, whatever the reaction may be. Next, stop throwing wood on an old fire. No catty remarks behind the other guy’s back. No grinning while other people put him down either. When your intent is to make peace, you need to bow out of the hateful talk altogether. Finally, live as if you don’t have the old grudge anymore. Talk to the person as often as the opportunity arises. Look for chances to say or do things that help the person. Translate your intentions into actions. Sign up for a new course this year: Peacemaking 101. The homework can be tough, but you’re really going to love the Teacher.
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Pope says schools must show connection of
truth, goodness, beaut y
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Catholic News Service
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis told about 300,000 Italian students that he loved school as a boy, as a teacher and as a bishop because it was a place where he met different people and where he was challenged to try to understand reality. Meeting with the students in St. Peter’s Square -- and along the wide boulevard leading to it -- the pope said he has never forgotten his first grade teacher. “I love school because that woman taught me to love it.” “Going to school means opening your mind and heart to reality in all its richness and various dimensions,” he said. “If one learns how to learn -- this is the secret, learning to learn -- this will stay with you forever.” The pope, who taught high school literature and psychology as a young Jesuit in Argentina, warned
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014
teachers that their students would be able “to smell” it if a teacher lacked the enthusiasm to keep learning. The evening celebration of “the world of Italian schools,” an event sponsored by the Italian bishops’ conference, was designed to promote collaboration between the Italian church, its schools and the government and its schools. Italian comedians, actors, singers and students entertained the crowd in between speeches from the pope, teachers and Stefania Giannini, Italy’s education minister. Addressing the students, teachers and Italian bishops, Pope Francis said a school is not “a parking garage,” where parents simply drop off their children. “It is a place of encounter along our journey.” While parents are the first educators of their children and the family is the first place people learn to get along with others and value
differences, he said, “at school we are ‘socialized.’ We meet people who are different from us, different in age, culture, origin and ability.” “Families and schools should never be in opposition,” he said, but they must work together for the good of the child. “This makes me think of a beautiful African proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’” The pope said he also loves schools because “they educate us about truth, goodness and beauty, which all go together. Education cannot be neutral, either it is positive or it is negative; it enriches or impoverishes; it helps the person grow or it suppresses or even corrupts them.” In the end, he said, a mature person will graduate speaking “three languages: the language of the mind, the language of the heart and the language of the hands,” making sure their actions are well thought out and are motivated by what is true, good and beautiful.
CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING
Pope Francis delivers a blessing during an encounter with Italian students, teachers and parents in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. About 300,000 attended the event.
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